Gamers on Microsoft’s Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms will soon be able to create custom tournaments with their friends.
However, the new Xbox Live Tournaments Platform, announced at GDC 2016 and available in developer preview today, is primarily designed to allow games makers to set up competitions through the Xbox Live platform.
The first titles to support these tournaments, which build on the current matchmaking abilities, will arrive on the scene later this year, Microsoft believes.
The ability to create small-scale, intimate tournaments should also appeal strongly to gamers, like Xbox Live’s Chad Gibson.
“I’m a huge Rocket League player, but I’m not amazing,” he told Polygon.
“I would love to play a tournament with my friends. I would love to be able to say, ‘Hey, guys. This Friday, why don’t the eight of us play a single elimination, one-on-one tournament and see who wins?’”
See also: PS4 vs Xbox One
The new initiative will make use of the Universal Windows Platform, bringing the tournaments to both Xbox One and PC gamers and offering a “cohesive experience across devices.”
Microsoft has also announced partnerships with e-sports companies FaceIt and the Electronic Sports League.
Microsoft is looking to expand its involvement in the burgeoning e-sports market beyond the Halo World Championship. The company is announcing more partnerships with e-sports companies soon.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
